Date set for 2014 Russellville Christmas ParadeThe 2014 Russellville Christmas Parade has been set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4. The rainout date is Monday, Dec. 8. The theme will be Songs of Christmas. Parade entry forms are available at the Recreation & Parks Department office at 1000 E. Parkway Drive in Russellville or online at www.russellvillearkansas.org. The entry fee for a float is $25 and a commercial entry other than a float is $100. All parade participants must submit an en...

Early voting starts for school electionEarly voting for the annual school election started at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will continue 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays until Monday. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Sept. 16. There are two contested school board races in Pope County and one contested race in Yell County. Three candidates are vying for the At Large 2 seat on the Russellville Board of Education — Timm Murdoch, Ray Black and Jami Smith Mullen. Earlie...

Russellville hires Public Works Director/City Engineer; salary set at $104,500The city hired Kurt Jones as City Engineer/Public Works Director on Monday, less than a month after Michael Oakes resigned from the position. Jones has 26 years in the field and has owned Kurt Jones Engineering in Russellville for the past eight years. Jones said his position with the city will be part time until Nov. 17, while he ties up loose ends in the private sector. "I will be part time during the transition to allow time to close out pr...

New CPD to open next yearCLARKSVILLE — Despite rain delays, construction of the new Clarksville Police Department is nearing the halfway mark. "I'm very hopeful it will be complete by February or March [2015]," Chief Greg Donaldson said, adding construction began in the spring. In 2011, Clarksville residents approved a 1-cent sales tax which funded a bond that generated $17 million. The bond money was used for construction of the 12,500-square-foot police department a...

Road improvements to cause lane closuresThe Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) reported multiple lane closures that will affect the Arkansas River Valley between Monday and Sept. 19. Road improvements will affect State Highway 7 in Russellville and south of Dover, according to a AHTD news release. Crews will resurface 4.2 miles of State Highway 7 from north of West Main Street to near G Street, which will reduce northbound and southbound traffic to one lane....

Clarksville woman dies in crashALMA — A Johnson County woman was killed in a single-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon in Crawford County, according to an Arkansas State Police report. Sue Watson, 71, of Clarksville was driving a 2003 Ford Explorer south on Interstate 49 near mile marker 22 in Alma when the accident occurred. Watson lost control of the vehicle around 3:12 p.m. when the tread on one of tires separated, according to a report. "The vehicle traveled off the ri...

Students embrace ShadowDOVER — After months of searching, Deborah Starr presented her Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) students with a class therapy dog. "The students' reactions were priceless," Starr said. "Students go home talking about all they get to do with Shadow and how much he helps them cope with the pressures of the school environment." Shadow, a half Australian shepherd and half blue heeler dog, is four months old. "He is a very smart breed," Starr...

Relay changes to be announcedThe word “new” will be used often during Rally for Relay at the 5:30 p.m. meeting Thursday at the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting, a number of changes will be announced for the local 2015 Relay For Life event, said Leigh Ann Veach, co-chair of the 2015 event. Relay For Life is the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Rally for Relay is for anyone in the community who wants more information abou...

Reporter speaks to law enforcement classCLARKSVILLE — The link between the media and law enforcement was strengthened Thursday when a local reporter visited a Clarksville classroom. The Courier's Jeanette Anderton spoke in Clarksville High School's Introduction to Law Enforcement class, taught by school resource officer Sterling Penix of the Clarksville Police Department (CPD). Penix said he asked Anderton to speak to his class regarding the relationship between the media and law en...

Dover steps closer to fitness trailDOVER — The Dover City Council approved during its regular meeting Tuesday applying for a grant that would fund construction of a fitness trail at Dover Primary School. During its August meeting, the council showed its support of the project but took no action until after the Dover Board of Education approved it. The school board gave Lt. Barry Walker of the Dover Marshal's Office its support of the project during a meeting last week. "Since l...

Student attends Space CampRussellville fifth-grader Garrett Wood recently had an out-of-this-world experience. The junior astronaut attended Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. Garrett is the son of Jason and Mary Wood and attends Upper Elementary 5th Grade. "He said the experience was well worth it," Mary said. "Within the week, he matured a lot and would tell people not to be nervous about exploring space opportunities." As part of the ...

Green and Gold ATU prideWith the new academic year now underway at Arkansas Tech University, a group of community supporters is encouraging area residents to display their green and gold pride. The ATU Connection Committee of the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce has developed a list of suggestions for ways that local businesses and individuals can show their support for Arkansas Tech: • Fly a Tech flag • Welcome students on signs/marquees • Employers and employe...

Commissioner recognized; streets to close for festivalDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle City Council recognized outgoing Planning Commissioner Jere Johnson Jr. during its meeting on Tuesday. Mayor Carolyn McGee presented Johnson an award for 12 years of service as a Planning Commission member. "We greatly appreciate your 12 years of dedicated service," McGee said. "Over the past 12 years, zoning has become very detailed, and therefore, requires more studying and note-taking — which you did very well." ...

Dover commits to curbing speedingDOVER — A bus driver for the Dover School District along with concerned residents asked the Dover City Council during its Tuesday meeting to take action to curb speeding. Connie Meadows, who drives the special-needs bus for the district, told the council she witnessed dangerous driving since school began. "Cars are flying down Water Street," she said. "Something's got to be done. You're going to get a child hit." Mayor Pat Johnson suggested be...

Downtown Art Walk Friday nightTwelve businesses will host an eclectic mix of talented area artists throughout Russellville Downtown this Friday night at a new time intended to better accommodate guests attending the third quarter Downtown Art Walk. The community is invited to stroll the sidewalks from 6-9 p.m. meeting friends, viewing art, listening to music and enjoying refreshments provided by the participating downtown businesses. The event is free and open to the publi...

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Main Street RussellvilleThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Pottsville firefighters train in ColoradoPOTTSVILLE — Because of funding provided by Union Pacific Railroad, four Pottsville firefighters traveled more than 800 miles last week and attended special training in Pueblo, Colo. "The training was provided by Union Pacific and paid for completely by Union Pacific, making [it] possible for us — as a volunteer department — to attend," Chief Brad Judkins said. Judkins, along with Assistant Chief Loyd Callan, Captain Keith Davis and Fireman Co...

Blood drive to benefit veteransVeterans are teaming up with the American Red Cross to save the lives of their own. The Veterans with Cancer Blood Drive, in honor of Marine Corp veteran Terry Davis, will take place from 10 a.m. to 6p.m. on Saturday at the Hughes Community Center. Davis has stage IV lung cancer. He was a Cyclone wrestling coach until May and is known throughout the state for helping launch the program in the Arkansas River Valley. Davis coached at the Boys an...

Barbecue event to benefit shelterCooking teams around the nation will visit the Arkansas River Valley to help local women and children. The inaugural EGG'N in the Valley will begin at 9 a.m. on Oct. 18 at the Pope County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by the River Valley Shelter for Battered Women and Children, Carr's Chain Reaction and the Big Green Egg, all proceeds will go to the shelter and its goal of ending domestic violence. Executive Director Jannie Condley said the fundraise...

RPD pulls back curtainThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) will begin its annual Citizen's Academy on Sept. 30. The eight-week program, which is scheduled to end with a graduation ceremony on Nov. 18, is designed to give local residents a better understanding of how the police department works. "The idea of the program is to pull back the curtains and let people see behind the scenes of the police department," RPD Public Information Officer Drew Latch said. "We...

Company to add fuel tank, lot in RussellvilleA Morrilton trucking company plans to erect a 10,000-gallon fuel tank alongside a parking area near the Russellville Regional Airport. The Russellville Planning Commission approved a request from the company, Wayne Smith Trucking, during its meeting on Monday. The company requested to install a fuel station and construct a large-scale truck and trailer parking area for trucking equipment. Based in Morrilton, Wayne Smith Trucking is a full-truc...